Sweet potato plant named ‘ISGGS10-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ipomoea batatas  cultivar named ‘ISGGS10-0’ is disclosed, characterized by heart-shaped foliage with yellow and green variegation. Plants are semi-compact, have a mounding habit, and produce many lateral branches, without pinching or chemical growth regulators. The new cultivar is an  Ipomoea batatas , typically suited for ornamental container and garden use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘ISGGS10-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a chance discovery by the inventor, Steve Jones. The variety was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation from an unnamed, unpatented proprietary variety of Ipomoea batatas. The new variety was discovered in August 2018 at a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘ISGGS10-0’ was first performed by vegetative tip cuttings in a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. in October 2018. ‘ISGGS10-0’ has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. Typical asexual reproduction of the new variety is by vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ISGGS10-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ISGGS10-0’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ISGGS10-0’ as a new and distinct Ipomoea cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique variegated yellow and green foliage color.     -   2. Dense, semi-compact plant habit.     -   3. Very well branched, without pinching or chemical growth         regulator use.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGGS10-0’ are similar to the parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘ISGGS10-0’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has variegated yellow and green foliage,         while the parent has solid green colored foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGGS10-0’ can be compared to the commercial variety Ipomoea batatas SWEET GEORGIA Heart Light Green. Plants of ‘ISGGS10-0’ are similar to plants of SWEET GEORGIA Heart Light Green in some horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘ISGGS10-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has variegated foliage, while this comparator         has solid green foliage.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGGS10-0’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Green Yellow’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,673. Plants of ‘ISGGS10-0’ are similar to plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Green Yellow’ in some horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘ISGGS10-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety grows more rapidly and has greater vigor than         this comparator.     -   2. Plants of the new variety are denser and bushier with many         more lateral branches.     -   3. Plants of the new variety are more upright, less trailing         habit and a full center. Plants of this comparator are         semi-trailing with a flat, less full plant center.     -   4. Foliage color of the new variety is green and yellow, foliage         of this comparator is green and yellow-green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘ISGGS10-0’ grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. This plant is approximately 8 weeks old, from an unrooted cutting, shown in a 1 gallon pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ISGGS10-0’ plants grown during the Spring months in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif., under bright, unshaded conditions. Average day temperatures were approximately 20° C. to 26° C. and the average night temperature was approximately 15° C. to 18° C. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘ISGGS10-0’. -   Age of the plant described: Approximately 8 weeks from an unrooted     cutting. -   Container size of the plant described: 1 gallon commercial     container. -   Propagation:     -   -   Propagation method.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to develop roots suitable for transplanting.—Summer —             about 6 days at an average temperature of 24° C.; Winter —             about 10 days at an average temperature of 24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy. Roots colored closest to             RHS Yellow-White 158A.         -   Tuber description.—Not observed to date. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-compact, and mounding. Dense and bushy.         -   Height.—Measured from top of soil line of pot, approximately             20 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 35 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Rapid.         -   Branching characteristics.—Very free branching, alternate or             whorled occurring. -   Primary lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—5 to 12 cm with new shoots occurring every 1 to 2             cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Internode length.—0.5-1.0 cm.         -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed.         -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Absent. -   Secondary lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—2 to 4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.35 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Strength.—Flexible.         -   Internode length.—0.3 to 1.0 cm.         -   Quantity per 20 week old plant.—Approximately 30 to 45.         -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed. -   New shoot growth characteristics:     -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Aspect.—Upright or outward.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled and alternate, simple.         -   Average length.—10 cm.         -   Average width.—7 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Cordate, some leaves with 2 sinuses present,             about 5 mm deep.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire. Occasionally 2 to 6 irregular serrations             present.         -   Aspect.—Upward fold at petiole attachment. Young foliage             more folded.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.         -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 5 to 15. -   Foliage color:     -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Near RHS Yellow 2D with all over             mottling of small splashes near Green 137C.         -   Young foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow 2D with all over             mottling near Green 137D.         -   Mature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Green 143B heavily             mottled with large splashes all over leaf blade Yellow 2D.             Up to 20% of mature foliage may be Yellow-Green 150A.             Approximately 10% may be Green 143C streaked and blotched             all over leaf blade Green-Yellow 1B.         -   Mature foliage under side.—Near RHS Green 143D moderately             mottled Yellow 2D all over leaf blade. Up to 20% of mature             foliage may be Yellow-Green 150A. Approximately 10% may be             Green 143C streaked and blotched all over leaf blade             Yellow-Green N144B. -   Venation:     -   -   Type.—Palmate, reticulate.         -   Venation color upper leaf.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Venation color lower leaf.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 3 to 7 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong, very flexible.         -   Aspect.—Straight to slightly undulate.         -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Absent. -   Flower: Flowering not observed to date. -   Other characteristics: -   Seeds and fruits: No seeds/fruits observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     the normal pests and diseases of Ipomoea has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately     2° C. Good high temperature tolerance, observed to at least 38° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatas plant named ‘ISGGS10-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 